The Camden Fringe Interviews
Kraken Theatre Company talk about bringing SpaceEater to Camden Fringe
Kraken Theatre Company was formed by a talented group of drama students from the University of Essex, with the purpose of making SpaceEater a reality. The writing won the university’s Re:Write Award, since when Kraken and the show have continued to on a voyage of development. Next stop, Camden Fringe.
We caught up with the team to find out about the show that will be coming to Courtyard Theatre on 18th and 19th August.
Welcome everyone, let’s have some introductions and your roles.
GABRIELLE: Hello, I’m Gabrielle Crook and I play Reverie in SpaceEater. I am also one of the artistic directors of Kraken Theatre Company.
TYLER: I’m Tyler Reuben and I play Athymy in SpaceEater.
GEORGE: I am George Goddard and I play Hiareth in SpaceEater.
ALICE: I’m Alice, I’m an artistic director for Kraken Theatre Co. and I play Onism in SpaceEater.
COREY: I’m Corey, a final year Drama student at the University of Essex. I’m one of the artistic directors for Kraken Theatre Co. and I play Astronaut in SpaceEater.
EMMA: Hi, I’m Emma Kopf, final year Drama and Scriptwriting student, writer and director of SpaceEater and one of the artistic directors of Kraken Theatre.
What can audiences expect from the show?
GABRIELLE: To still be thinking about it 3 days later.
TYLER: This is an incredible piece of original writing which questions destiny, purpose and our own mortality, leaving audiences with a wealth of interpretations to choose from.
GEORGE: Audiences can expect to be held in suspense as the Astronaut encounters a variety of entities that accompany him on a spaceship lost in the depths of space.
ALICE: You can expect to empathize with each character despite their differing values.
COREY: Audiences can expect to be taken on a journey of self-reflection and left questioning existence.
EMMA: I hope they find some sense of solace in it. I think it was Corey who told me after one of the first read throughs of the extended version that he feels much calmer about passing, not existing because of SpaceEater. This was one of my bigger goals with this play. It can be disturbing at parts, but I hope ultimately people will leave with something positive.
Where will we find you for Camden Fringe then?
GABRIELLE: 18th and 19th at the Courtyard Theatre. It is the perfect size and space for our show and everyone who works their seems really lovely.
EMMA: I’m a big fan of blackbox theatres, and the Courtyard is exactly that. It really does fit the atmosphere of SpaceEater.
What was the inspiration behind the show?
EMMA: Well, if we really go down the line, I drafted the first scene in February of 2023, but the inspiration came in December 2022 after seeing an art installation in the Budapest Light Art Museum. This is also where the title is coming from, it’s a direct translation from the original Hungarian. There was this sphere you could enter with projections thrown on the inner wall of it in always changing patterns. It was breathtaking, it made me focus inside. And then I saw the title, and everything sort of just clicked. Suddenly there was a story in my head. By April of 2023 I had the 20-minute version, so I was able to present it at a university scriptwriting competition (which we won.) From then on, I review the script before every performance, making slight changes, it’s always evolving.
What drew each of you to your roles?
GABRIELLE: I really like Reverie, which I think is very important when taking on a role. I understand her feelings and her actions even when audiences might perceive them as extreme.
TYLER: Athymy is a beautifully complex character who struggles to put his faith in destiny, something I think everyone can relate to. He fears the unknown and ever lurking possibility of death, which leads him on a journey of acceptance within the play. Ultimately, he wishes to do what’s best for the one he loves.
GEORGE: I was drawn to the character of Hiarteh originally as the writer/director suggested I audition for this part. My friendship with Tyler (Athymy) outside of acting gave us a natural chemistry on stage that I hope will shine through in the performance.
ALICE: After casually working with Emma, she suggested that I audition specifically for the role of Onism. I enjoy the complex character and how she struggles to show her need to protect the others in the face of uncertainty.
COREY: I wanted to work with Emma after seeing her previous work and I found the idea of being a vessel to other beings interesting. I enjoy the variety in the performance. Each interaction is completely different and dependent on each character. I enjoy the constant change of self and the journey Astronaut goes on.
Emma as the writer, why did also decide to also direct the show?
EMMA: I had such a specific view for this work that I wanted to do it. I think this is a weakness of mine, I like to direct what I write, this is something I’m working towards letting go. Though I believe many other writers would gladly direct a lot of their own writing. My favourite element is the amazing cast I get to work with. They are all so talented, bring so much to this show, I gained a lot of inspiration from them. With different people SpaceEater wouldn’t look the way it is today.
What is it you hope the audience take away from watching SpaceEater?
GABRIELLE: I hope audiences want to see what we do next, whether that’s as individuals or as a company. We are a very keen group with loads of ideas, talent and passion. We love theatre and working together and I hope that comes across.
EMMA: I hope they will think about their values in life. About what is really important, because SpaceEater is also about letting go of a lot of things, memories, feelings, fragments that make us human. But with that comes that I think the beauty of the show is that everyone will think about something entirely different. SpaceEater is written to hold a mirror, and the reflection will be unique for everyone.
Is Camden Fringe going to be the show’s first time on a London stage?
GABRIELLE: This is my first time at Camden Fringe and my first show outside of school or university. There is an 18 year old me who gave up on a career in acting out there who cannot believe this is happening… even 21 year old me cannot believe its happening. This is a dream come true for me and to play Revierie (which means dream) feels so special. I will cherish the upcoming month for the rest of my life and I am beyond grateful for the friends for supporting me through my nerves and self doubts- I would not be here without you.
TYLER: It has been a year since Spaceater won the Re:write playtext competition at the University of Essex and since then it’s doubled in length and had a performance on Lakeside Theatre stage, with a two metre tall rostra. We have continued developing the show all the way up to Camden, ensuring audiences invest deeper into the characters and storyline.
ALICE: Considering we started with a short 20 minute version, a lot has changed.
COREY: Pretty much everything has changed.
Are there any plans for what comes next after August – for you or the show?
GABRIELLE: In September, I will begin studying for a Masters in Creative Producing at Royal Centrtal School of Speech and Drama. As the first Kraken graduate, my hope is with new industry connections I can support my friends in their acting/writing/directing careers.
TYLER: Kraken will be returning home for the Colchester Fringe, within which we have two pieces of original writing. The Little Prince, directed by Tyler Reuben and Lolly Taylor, is a theatrical adaption of the beloved book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, featuring puppetry, an array of colourful characters and a journey that encourages us to find the child within. The Creator is Present is another groundbreaking piece of writing from and directed by Emma Kopf, which feature two actors unaware of the people and lives they live outside of the stage, trapped in their characters and ever observed by their creator. Kraken intend to continue developing as a company with more original works and doing what we love in the process.
ALICE: Our company has plans with two other shows at Colchester fringe. As for Space Eater… we shall see.
COREY: International tour???
EMMA: After the Colchester Fringe, for a lot of us, it’s a not so long road anymore to graduation. I think we’ll tackle that first and then see where we will be going with the company. 😊 There is definitely no stopping though!
Being Camden Fringe, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this with your set and props?
ALICE: It’s literally just a phone.
COREY: Yes, we have a phone.
What made you decide to be part of Camden Fringe this year?
EMMA: I was so hesitant to apply to any fringes this year. It’s always that little voice in the back of your head that you will not be good enough, but here we are! And also if Samuel Bell (Deputy technician of Lakeside Theatre and one of our Technical Theatre Arts lecturer) doesn’t send a bunch of application links my way and tells me any play can be a fringe play, I probably won’t apply. So, thank you Samuel!
What words of advice/ encouragement would you give anyone thinking about doing Camden Fringe next year?
GABRIELLE: Don’t wait for the right time or to feel ready! You are ready, there is no right time. Give it a go.
EMMA: In complete agreement with Gabrielle. Your play is good. It always was. Go out and show it to people.
Who’s going to play you when your autobiography is snapped up by Hollywood then?
GABRIELLE: Florence Pugh because she is an Oxford Girl or Diana Silvers because she is so underrated.
ALICE: Myself. Even when there are childhood flashbacks, it’ll be me, fully grown.
COREY: Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Will you be frequenting the bar after your show to chat with your new fans?
GEORGE: After the show I hope people will ask for my workout routine, and how my cheek bones look so defined while on stage.
If you had to describe your show as a colour?
TYLER: Eternal darkness
ALICE: Various shades of grey.
EMMA: Purple?
And if it were a meal?
TYLER: A little bit of Guiness.
COREY: A hot jalfrezi because the more you eat it, the more complex and spicier it gets.
If budget was not an issue, what’s the one piece of scenery/ set you’d love to have in your show?
GABRIELLE: A real spaceship.
TYLER: Young Johnny. (EMMA: A running joke between company members about a hidden character in the show called Young Johnny.)
GEORGE: If budget was not an issue, I would have an entire spaceship as our set, accompanied by projections of outer space.
ALICE: A star.
COREY: A spaceship cockpit.
EMMA: We would borrow an astronaut suit from NASA. Maybe send the cast to space for an immersive experience?
Many thanks to Kraken Theatre Company for taking the time to chat. You can catch SpaceEater when it plays at the Courtyard Theatre between 18th and 19th August.
Further information and tickets available here.
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